Preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane by oxychlorination of ethene, to a catalyst employed in this process, and to a process for the preparation of the catalyst. A process for the preparation of 1,2-dichloroethane by oxychlorination of ethene in the presence of a copper-containing fixed-bed catalyst comprising a bed essentially consisting of catalyst particles which comprise, at least partially, support material impregnated with an active component and, if desired, a promoter, where the catalyst bed comprises essentially no separate inert material for dilution.